The Art of Fencing eBook

A good Disposition is seldom to be met with, for there
is generally a Mixture of bad Parts with the good.
Some have a supple, light and vigorous Body, and with
these Qualities a heavy or ill adjusted Hand; and
others that have as good a Disposition as is desirable,
have a narrow Genius, fearing to undertake any thing,
or are hot and inconsiderate, which shews that it
is only be a perfect Accord of the Parts and Understanding
that a Man can be perfectly dexterous.

In short an able Master does not only shew the Fault,
and whence it proceeds, but also the Danger to which
it exposes, and the Means to leave it. A Master
whose Play is regular, or who has the best Foundation,
may properly be said to be a good Master.

CHAP. XXX.

Rules for pushing and parrying at the Wall, and
for making an Assault.

Though ’tis absolutely necessary to begin by
way of Lesson, and to continue in it a long Time,
in order that Practice growing to a Habit, may give
Liberty to the Parts to form themselves: nevertheless
however well you may take your Lessons, some other
Means are necessary to make an Assault well, than
those which the Master gives at his Plastron:
This Rule must be supported by pushing and parrying
at the Wall, and in the Manner I am going to lay down.

When you have laboured a certain Time at Lessons,
you must push at a Cushion which is fixed against
the Wall for that Purpose, observing the Guard, and
the Measure or Extention of the Thrust; and that the
Hand display itself in Quart, not only according
to the Rule, but first, adjusting and supporting the
Thrust, and that all the Parts be placed in the most
advantageous Situation for the Thrust and Recovery,
which shou’d be very regularly observed.

After having lunged for some Days on the Cushion,
to fix the Wrist and Body a little, you must push
at a Scholar, who Being placed at the Wall will parry
your Thrusts; you shou’d be in Measure, and to
see if it be just, you must lunge in Quart,
placing the Button softly on the Body, at the same
time taking off your Hat, having taken the Measure
you must recover in Guard, and place yourself on the
Outside of his Sword in order to disengage and push
Quart, being more careful of pushing justly
than hitting; he that parrys shou’d from time
to time drop his Foil, which will shew whether he
that pushes follows the Blade or the Line of the Body;
having remain’d some Time upon the Lunge to form
the Support of the Wrist and the Posture of the Body
you recover to Guard. When you lunge pretty well
in Quart, you may disengage and push Tierce,
and when the Thrust is pushed and parryed, you may
recover and push Seconde under.

When you have pushed for some Time in this Manner,
you may practise to parry, putting yourself for that
Purpose to the Wall, which furnishes a better Parade
than at large, where you are used to draw back the
Body which weakens it, whereas here you cannot, which
makes the Parade stronger, having no Dependence but
on the Foil; you shou’d chuse a Scholar that
pushes the most regularly, it being difficult without
that, that a Beginner shou’d learn to parry
justly.